Local Briefs: Indiana

The NAACP's Indiana State Conference of Branches has elected Trina Robinson of South Bend as its fourth vice president and Ron Davis of Elkhart as its third vice president.

They were among the officers elected at a statewide NAACP convention Oct. 23 to 25.

Barbara Bolling of Gary was elected statewide president.

Robinson is president of the South Bend branch, which will host the next convention Oct. 21 to 24.

EDUCATION

3 interim school leaders named

SOUTH BEND -- The South Bend Community School Corp. has three new interim leaders who were all shifted from other positions.

The moves, announced at a board meeting Wednesday, fill gaps after Tom Fujimura was moved from director of intermediate programs to director of instruction. Pat O'Connor had served in that role until she resigned recently.

Here are the temporary assignments, named by Superintendent James Kapsa:

Cindy Oudghiri takes over Fujimura's role as interim director of intermediate programs. She was principal of LaSalle Intermediate Academy.

ELKHART -- Two Goshen men died early Saturday after their vehicle crashed into a water-filled ditch about four miles south of Elkhart.

Dead are the driver, Brandon Blosser, 31, and his passenger, Jason Mast, 34, according to Elkhart County police.

Blosser was driving south on County Road 9 south of County Road 28 about 1:45 a.m. when his vehicle left the east side of the road and entered the ditch, police said. The car flipped over and became partly submerged in water, with both men inside.

They were pronounced dead at the scene from their injuries, police said. It is not yet known whether the men were wearing seat belts.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

CRIME & COURTS

Weaving cyclist arrested for neglect

SOUTH BEND -- A 53-year-old South Bend man was arrested early Saturday for child neglect and public intoxication after police found him riding a bike along North Shore Drive with his 7-year-old son running after him.

Police received a call about 1:30 a.m. Saturday that a man on a bike was weaving along the 100 block of West North Shore Drive, and that a small child was walking and running to try to keep up with him, according to a police report.

Officers arrived at the scene to find the man and the bike on the ground, and the child standing nearby in just a polo shirt and pants. The child was crying and upset, according to police.

The man had slurred speech, making him difficult to understand, according to the police report.

The child told officers that he and his father had been at a party, his father left on the bike and he had tried to keep up with him, according to the report. The boy said his mother lives in Niles.

The 28-year-old woman called police about 9 p.m. Friday from a motel in the 3300 block of Lincoln Way West.

She told them she had just finished shopping at a nearby store when the 27-year-old man jumped into her vehicle, displayed a gun and threatened to shoot her, according to a police report. He took some money from her and ordered her to drive to the motel, where he entered a room, police said.

The woman told officers she was scared for her life.

The suspect was located in the motel room, arrested and taken to the St. Joseph County Jail.

CRIME & COURTS

Woman robbed in home invasion

SOUTH BEND -- A 19-year-old South Bend woman told police she was robbed by two armed men who broke into her home about 3 p.m. Friday in the 2600 block of West Dunham Street.

The woman said the two men, both about 19 years old, entered her bedroom wearing masks and demanding money, according to a police report. One man, who was wearing a clown mask, pointed the gun at her, she told police.

He briefly lifted his mask and she recognized him, according to the report.

The other suspect, who was wearing a Lucky Charms jacket, was recognized by another visitor in the house, according to the report.

The two men stole $700 in cash that had been intended as rent money, the woman told police.